Phytochemical and Biological Investigation of Nitraria retusa Asch

Nitraria retusa asch (zygophyllaceae) of jordanian origin has been investigated phytochemically andbiologically. three compounds, two new and one previously known, have been isolated and identified. the newcompounds are 5,7-dihydroxy-3-deoxy vasicine (i) and 7-hydroxy-3-deoxy-1-vasiciene (ii), while the knowncompound is o-acetyl nitraraine (i) but reported for the first time from this species. the relative levels ofantioxidant activity and total phenolic content of the methanolic extract of nitraria retusa and fraction b (thealkaloid rich fraction) were determined using the improved abts•+ method and the folin-ciocalteu colorimetricmethod, respectively. the total phenolic content of the methanolic extract and fraction b was found to be 234.66and 114.53 mg gae/g extract, respectively, while the total antioxidant capacity was found to be 429.3 and 809.9μmol te/g extract, respectively. the methanolic extract and fraction b were also tested for their generalcytotoxicity using the brine shrimp lethality test (bslt),but no activity was detected (lc50 >1000 ppm)